Tobacco pipe



April 24, 1934. y B A JOHNSTON 1,955,747

TOBACCO PIPE Filed July 30, 1952 /V'TQ/ l r ATTORNEY Patented Apr. Z4, 1934 iro STATES I resem 3 Claims.

This invention relates to tobacco pipes and refers more particularly to an improved means for connecting the mouthpiece or bit to the stem.

5, Heretofore the mouthpiece or bit of a tobacco pipe has been provided with a reduced terminal at its forward end which telescopically fits within a recess in the rear end of the stem, or has been otherwise rigidly connected to the stem. Where a reduced terminal of the mouthpiece or bit is tted within a recess in the stem, it is obvious that both the stem and the mouthpiece or bit are weakened to such an extent that if subjected to any bending' action there is a tendency to break o the reduced extremity or split the recessed end of the stem. In addition to this the stem becomes moisture laden and tends to expand or swell, causing cracking of the stem at the recessed portion which re- 20 ceives the bit extremity.

In order to overcome these objections and disadvantages, the present invention comprehends an improved form of pipe stem and mouthpiece or bit in which the adjacent ends thereof are maintained in abutting relation by an elastic sleeve which normally holds said elements in axial alignment by its inherent elasticity while permitting of relative movement or iiexing of the mouthpiece and stem.

39 The invention further resides in the provision of a connection for the mouthpiece or bit and stem of a tobacco pipe, which means is comparatively simple in its construction, inexpensive to produce, affords ready means for establishing connection between the stem and mouthpiece which connection is highly4 ecient in its purpose.

With the above-recited and other objects in view reference is had to the following specification and accompanying drawing, wherein there is disclosed several preferred embodiments of the invention, while the claims mark out and dei-lne the actual scope thereof.

In the drawing* L15 Fig. l is a side viewof a tobacco pipe constructed in accordance with the invention, with parts broken away and shown in section to disclose the underlying structure;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of a slightly modified form of Ythe invention;

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the connecting sleeve removed from the pipe.

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference, 5 designates the bowl of the pipe having the usual stem 6 which in the present instance is recessed or cut away at its outer end as at 7 to provide a slightly reduced diameter. The mouthpiece or bit 8 is also recessed or cut away at its forward end as at 9 to provide a slightly reduced diameter. The end faces l0 and l1 of the stern 6 and mouthpiece 8 are flat and adapted to be brought into flat contact or abutting relation with each other. rEhe means for connectingthe stem and bit consists of a tubular element or sleeve l2 constructed of an elastic or 6U resilient, stretchable material such as rubber, and the normal internal diameter of which is slightly less than the external diameters of the portions of the stem and mouthpiece over which it ts. The sleeve l2 is also of slightly less length 70 than the combined length of the portions of the stem and mouthpiece over which it is to be fitted, so that in applying the sleeve or element 12, it is expanded over the stem and mouthpiece and stretched longitudinallyV whereby it exerts 75 a circumferential and longitudinal contractile action to establish a smoke-tight connection. At the same time the inherent longitudinal contractile action serves to impinge the end faces l0 and 11 of the stem and mouthpiece upon each other. When so connected it is apparent that due to the elastic and resilient nature of the sleeve, the stem and bowl portions of the pipe may beiiexed with reference to the bitor mouthpiece as shown in broken lines in Fig. l, without breaking said elements as frequently happens when the pipe is grasped by the bit portion and the bowl hammered against an object to dislodge the contents oi the bowl.

1n the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. f 2 of the drawing the stem 6a and bit or mouthpiece Sa are not provided with the recessed or cutaway portions 7 and 9 as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing, so that the sleeve has a ush fit with these parts as shown in Fig. l, but in this 9 instance the sleeve 12a is expanded over the adjacent ends of the stem and bit and worked longitudinally in opposite directions to place the sleeve under longitudinal tension as well as expanded over the adjacent ends of the stem and mouthpiece.

What I claim is:

l. A tobacco pipe, including a stem and a mouthpiece, and an elastic coupling sleeve tting over the adjacent ends thereof for holding the same in abutting relation and for permitting relative angular movement between the same and the mouthpiece without detaching the same.

2. A tobacco pipe, including a stem and a mouthpiece and an elastic coupling sleeve tting longitudinal and circumferential contracting action upon said stem and mouthpiece, and for drawing the adjacent ends of the same into normal abutting relation, While permitting of relative angular movement between said stem and mouthpiece, said sleeve consisting of an elastic cylinder telescopically tting over the adjacent ends of the stem and mouthpiece, said stem and mouthpiece being recessed to receive the sleeve and dispose the outer surface of the same ush with the outer surface of the stem and mouthpiece.

BYRON A. JOHNSTON. 

